RunPackGuides · 4 min read
Doing parkrun with friends: a simple weekly crew ritual
How to make parkrun your crew’s weekly run: picking an event, mixed paces on the same course, volunteering together, and coffee afterwards.
parkrun is a free, timed 5K held every Saturday morning in parks in many countries, run by volunteers. Because it happens at the same time every week and welcomes every pace, it makes a great ready-made group run for a crew.
Pick your event
Choose the one closest to most of the group, or take turns visiting a different event now and then. Check the event’s own page for the start time and course.
Mixed paces work naturally
Everyone runs the same course, so faster and slower runners finish within a few minutes of each other. Agree to meet at the finish, or pair up and run it together at the slower person’s pace. More in running with someone faster or slower.
Volunteer together
Events need volunteers every week. Volunteering as a crew now and then is a good way to give back, and a nice change on a week someone’s resting.
Make it a ritual
- Coffee afterwards is the classic.
- Mark milestones: someone’s first, or a personal best.
- Bring newcomers. A first 5K is far less daunting with friends. See a first 5K with friends.
How RunPack helps
Record the run with your phone or watch, and it appears in your crew’s private RunPack feed next to everyone else’s, along with the runs you each do during the week. Free for crews of up to 4, on iPhone. See how a crew works.
parkrun is a trademark of its owner; RunPack isn’t affiliated with parkrun. Your official parkrun time comes from parkrun, not RunPack.